#caitlyn kiramman analysis

[runtopluto]

Cooking up this idea for a slow burn, character analysis, Caitvi fic on AO3. Should I drop samples here?

It would be my first fic released in SO long and I am SO nervous. I'm looking to improve my writing without the use of Ai and would greatly welcome critique!!

If anyone would be interested in that, let me know! Also share some of your favorite, well-written Arcane fanfictions in the tags!!

[a-bit-predictable]

making a new post to reply to this comment because i ended up with a lot more to say beyond the, by intention, limited scope of the original one (link), which was about caitlyn's action that scene in 2x03 paralleling to vi's in 1x03. and i didn't want it to go to waste in the replies lol.

so yeah, this mess of a ramble goes out to all my fellow caitlyn analysis enthusiasts who care about nuance!

first, regarding the subject matter of my original post that this reply references:

i genuinely don't see how cait's incident of hitting vi was framed as any less terrible than vi's hitting powder??? to me it was an obvious, intentional, direct parallel - down to the top-down shots of powder & vi from those scenes being literally framed exactly the same way. if we're talking about the reactions following the incidents, even vi's guilt through the entire show was focused on abandoning her little sister, not the hit itself. and with drastically different circumstances surrounding each incident by two very different characters, how caitlyn & vi handle/show their guilt is practically incomparable. i'm not sure what other sort of "framing" is at play here.

i also don't see how the age difference would make vi forget what that low moment felt like or make it more excusable/forgivable (teenagers are still people and growing up doesn't mean we can magically expect or demand perfect emotional control)... nor do i see how having privilege either negates or invalidates unprecedented levels of grief in a person's life. you cannot quantify pain. emotion is still emotion and it's relative to your own lived experience and no one else's, no matter your social or economic background. privilege is not at play when caitlyn acts out against a perceived, personal betrayal by vi and an accusation that she is exactly like her enemy. it of course IS at play throughout her revenge mission before and after that moment (see later paragraphs). and it's EXTREMELY unfortunate and awful that she used that power getting directly involved leading a strike team mission when she was already in a very unhealthy state of mind going in, all of which only further exacerbated that hatred and twisted perspective. but it's STILL worth making an effort to understand (not excuse, that's a completely different word) the reasons she was invested in the first place: (1) guilt she didn't take the shot which she already had motivation to take and would have prevented her mother's death moments later; and (2) a deeply ingrained sense of responsibility to her city to deliver "justice" and give them a sense of safety from what they deem to be terrorism (keyword: deem).

as for her other actions against zaunites, i specifically did not mention them in the original post because of their weight and because i wanted to exclusively address one specific action that involved interpersonal conflict with another character. but since we're here now:

speaking strictly about the grey and nothing else for a moment, i struggle not to feel like people are overstating the strike team's use of it. it was, literally, a morally grey tactic and an unfair advantage, but it was also calculated and strategic and used by a group of 5 people targeting specific dangerous locations with chem baron/shimmer gang activity (a fictitious extreme, i'm not equating this to irl gangs) while extracting leads from them to find jinx. even in 2x02, they used it at an abandoned arcade on an abandoned street (that vi knew well) with almost no one around. they did NOT just go around willingly targeting uninvolved civilians in populated areas with it. yeah, the 2x03 opening montage was all fast-paced action and meant to set a dark tone, but what is and isn't depicted in it still matters.

all of these details align with caitlyn's intended 3 goals stated at the end of 2x01, where she pushes for the strike team as a lesser evil compared to the full scale invasion everyone else wanted, something in which "innocents will be caught in the crossfire," her own quote in 2x01. there is also no indication or depiction afterwards, in the 2x04 montage or otherwise, of her using the grey on civilians throughout the period of martial law (which involved other forms of brutality that are still fucked up and i shouldn't need to further bloat this post with). the grey only ever makes a return in localized use on the battlefield in 2x09 - again, not civilians, but soldiers of an imperialist nation.

all of that being said, caitlyn IS complex and she's NOT at all innocent. calculated or not, she makes a lot of harmful decisions and moral sacrifices in pursuit of personal vengeance, leading to actions that (unlike the other comic-book-type villainy in this show) heavily resemble issues that hit close to home in the real world and evoke real, valid emotion. but at the end of the day we're talking about a fictional character written with a deeper purpose and message about letting go of the cycle of hatred. despite her guilt not being VISCERALLY obvious via outward on-screen emotion like some people wanted (that's not the type of person she is), she's still shown in both dialogue and actions to understand and regret her ("our") crimes, post-time-skip from 2x04 and beyond. and sure, yes, she deserves to spend the rest of her life atoning and working her privilege to do good. both her speech and final scene with vi at the end of 2x09 indicate that intention, just in a non-literal, literary way (because this is a work of fiction and not a court room).

to be crystal clear, and i am NOT one of the people unwilling to "admit that the character has done terrible things." i hate that shit too. but i am also not interested in tunnelvision-ing bad actions or ignoring the nuance of caitlyn's underlying nature, motivations, and intentions for the sake of virtue signaling when her character is a great lesson on how quickly good intentions and heart can become corrupted. the problem i have is when people just don't care to look closer or dig deeper into a carefully constructed character and would rather tie her up in a neat little villainous bow with the worst labels and accusations and try to guilt people over it...

because of course that's way easier than acknowledging what is clearly novels' worth of layered complexity, and it feels better to hate a character in totality from some moral high-ground than to feel conflicted about them, right?

[bi-for-vi]

In literary/cinema mediums, when a character extends their hand in friendship while hiding their other hand behind their back, that can actually symbolize tension between trust and betrayal

The hidden hand means the character is hiding something, literally or metaphorically. A weapon, a scheme, an ulterior motive. It signifies that their friendship is likely a trap

TLDR Maddie was always hiding something and the writers hinted at it the whole time

Fuck that bitch leprachaun

[shitpostingsapphic]

"Caitlyn never verbally apologized" no, she did so much more than that.

She betrayed Ambessa. She let Jinx go. She led the battle against Ambessa in the finale. She lost an eye and nearly died. She gave up her seat on the council to Sevika so that Zaun could be represented.

Does it fix everything? No. Systems of oppression aren't fixed with a handful of well intentioned actions.

But Caitlyn DID feel remorse and DID make attempts to reverse her wrongdoings.

Did you want Caitlyn to change, or did you just want her to be punished?

[iminmywritersdungeon]

Been thinking about Arcane and good parents v loving parents. Parents who care so so deeply but are toxic and poisonous.

Silco loves his daughter but he put a gun in her hand. He would give his life for that girl but he wouldn’t heal for her. He would burn the world to the ground but he wouldn’t plant a tree.

Vander seems cold and uncaring but he fights for those kids until his dying breath. He’s gruff and mean, he takes his kids things and he punishes them but he shows them what it means to live the way they do, what it means to be angry and to see where that anger goes.

Ambessa Medarda loves her daughter but she is a warlord, a conqueror. If her daughter fails to fit the mold then she will be conquered too. She will chisel away at the marble of her children and when the cracks become visible she will toss them out, and when golden tears bleed through the chips in the stone she will cry out “I did it for you!” And yet they are empty words. The golden sunburst of her daughter will wilt in her shadow.

Cassandra kiramman is so cold and venomous and like a disease to everything her daughter loves, but she also gets them a meeting with the council. She spreads her vulture wings over her daughter, clouding the sun, drowning her, and still dutifully feeds her when she asks oh so nicely, when she can no longer deny her.

Ximena Talis is both loving and good because she does what she needs to keep her son safe and by god does she love him. She will make the sacrifices and make the choices and make sure her son can live the life that he almost lost.

Singed is like Viktor’s father, but Viktor will be crushed underfoot if he cannot make sacrifices, love and legacy. He will tear his own body to shreds and he will look into that scarred face and he will feel his body destroy him.

And of course, there are Jinx and VI’s birth parents. We know nothing about them, not their names, who they were, whether they were cold or warm or caring or cruel. What we know is that they were on that bridge. What we know is that they wanted better.

Parenthood will rip you to shreds if you cannot handle it. It will riddle you with bullets and it will cry over your corpse are you willing to lose them, are they willing to lose you?

Is there anything so undoing as a daughter?

[booknbrew]

Something I just realized and had to point out is:

Almost all of Arcane's parent characters were "undone" by their children -

Silco was killed off by his adopted daughter Powder/jinx, after years of backing her up, no matter what she did and who was effected by it.

Vander was killed and revived after trying to save his remaining living children Vi and Powder, after spending years taking care of them and protecting them with their adopted siblings Milo and Claggor.

Felicia died in battle fought for the future of her daughters.

Cassandra died in the attack on the council after Caitlyn convinced her that change is possible and that peace is achievable

Ambessa died after fighting with the young woman she was mentoring and shaping in her image, in her daughters arms, after finally recognizing Mel's strength.

Grayson died in the first shimmer monster attack as an officer of Piltover that was the first to try and bridge the gap between the two parts of the city. She was one of Caitlyn's mentors that did target practice with her and surely taught her a lot as a markswoman and a human being.

Now, you remember that "almost", right?

Well, Ximena Talis, Jayce's mother is the only one not to die in the show for her son's ideals. She did come very close, but not for her child's ideals that inspired her to change for the better or acknowledge him: but similarly to the others - to ensure his future.

In the end - her son ended up gone for her and everyone else's future.

[jane-asmo]

Here’s a quick review of the amazing opening of Arcane season 2:

Vi seems to be struggling with her identity / Loss of identity

Vi is wearing the tank top that I believe is the one she wears under her enforcer uniform. That’s the outfit she’s wearing throughout the opening.

Jinx, who was hiding behind, rises and steps into the light—maybe a way of showing that she’s grown symbolically, that she’s now 'bigger.'

Ekko with his shadow resembling a clock winding back time.

Caitlyn is shown in her turtleneck (also what she wears under her enforcer outfit ? ), With a curtain to suggest a stage, she takes a deep breath before stepping into the light with a fake smile. Honestly, if I analyze it, we can say without much risk that she's in inner conflict, that she has to step into the spotlight and is showing a different face from how she really feels.

There’s so much to say about the other scenes, but others will handle that perfectly; I have a special focus on CaitVi (😂). Here they are again in the same outfits—the turtleneck and tank top. It’s an interesting way to present them, and there’s a lot that could be said, which I won’t go into, but I wanted to point it out. Cait and Vi are more vulnerable in these outfits; it’s very intimate, as are all the shots with them in this opening. We’re really in deeply intimate territory.

The looks are very intense, filled with hatred or something else? (my poor babies).

At first, I thought they were kissing, but now I think they’re fighting. They could be kissing or strangling each other in that shot; it’s hard to tell. In both cases, it’s very interesting because this little backlit scene with its colors is very intense. And, as I read elsewhere, very lesbian flag.

And Caitlyn is still struggling, with her shadow looking like the Evil Queen, I think (lol 😆). And the effect on her hands gives the impression that she has blood on them.

And I really like this shot because that's my Caitlyn; she has the look of someone who’s realizing, who understands. And maybe she’s coming back to her senses? So, there you have it—just my initial thoughts. I was so awestruck by this new opening that I just had to watch it again and again.

[oxenfreeao3]

Her actions are egregious.

They are not out of character.

We are witnessing the making of the wolf Ambessa wanted.

Analysis:

This scene peels away the final scrim of veneer and reveals to us the ugly aggregate of Caitlyn’s flaws.

Why does she do what she does?

Caitlyn knows her affection for Vi is a weakness. She knows it compromises her. It has already cost her the life of her mother and the stability of the city.

But Caitlyn wants it all. She wants Vi, and she wants “justice.” And she’s not one to be denied.

So, she coerces Vi. She manipulates her. Lies to her. Anything to keep her within her sphere of control. Because if she can control Vi, if she can mold her into an extension of her own judgement, they can be together.

And for a while, it works. Vi, desperate for connection and affection and stability, yearning to atone for her percieved mistakes and serve the one she cares for, falls in line. Utterly lacking any moral alignment because all that truly drives her is love, she cleaves to Caitlyn’s authority.

Until she doesn’t.

When Vi breaks with Caitlyn, once again stopping her from doing what she feels must be done, the illusion shatters.

Caitlyn sees reality.

She cannot control Vi.

And so they cannot be together.

As a result, Caitlyn implodes into a cold, closed, compartmentalized fury. She is angry at herself because she lacks discipline. She is angry at her mother for all the ways she resembles her. She is angry at Vi because Vi made her vulnerable.

She directs all her anger into a calculated act of violence designed to sever the ties that bind.

It has to be brutal. A burned bridge. Irredeemable. Because she doesn’t want to tempt herself with a path to reconciliation. She does not trust herself.

Not when it comes to Vi.

Caitlyn is a nexus of privilege and ruthlessness and desire. This, paired with her arrogance and ignorance of statecraft, makes her a prime target for Ambessa and her machinations. I think Caitlyn is likely to look up and find herself a sheep in wolf’s clothing, the sacrificial knife at her throat.

[lifeinked]

Why I Love Caitlyn, and Why You Hate Her

⚠️ READER DISCRETION: I am not condoning Caitlyn’s actions and behavior, I am simply exploring the depth of her character and explaining what motivated her pursuit of revenge.

There’s no denying the gravity of Caitlyn’s actions as they are unquestionably wrong. However, her character cannot be reduced to these actions alone. This sudden, devastating behavior of hers is shaped by a thread of complex motivations and circumstances, but many choose not to acknowledge this simply because of her elite background. 

Like many others, I initially overlooked the point of the gassing in Zaun, which I think is a crucial thing everyone must first understand before diving into the discourse over Caitlyn's character. 

The Grey, often misunderstood as being used indiscriminately, was strategically deployed against the Chem-Barons to limit collateral damage. Caitlyn chose precision over chaos, targeting those directly responsible for Zaun’s turmoil. Furthermore, Caitlyn didn’t kill the Chem-Barons; she captured them, with net-deploying bullets. While her methods are controversial, they reflect a calculated approach; mischaracterizing her raid as a reckless attack ignores these details.

This isn’t to deny or excuse the fact that Caitlyn did, indeed, gas Zaun. Who’s to say that gas didn’t seep into the streets where innocent Zaunites roamed, harming them in the process? It’s entirely possible that innocents were affected and devastated. However, my brief explanation is only added to gain better perspective over the objectives of the gassing itself.

Now moving on, despite her privileged upbringing, Caitlyn shows a genuine effort to understand and connect with Zaunites. She places her trust in Vi, a Zaunite she’s never met before, to guide her in her search for Silco. Her journey through the undercity opens her eyes to the struggles of its people, challenging her perspective.

In S1E4, when investigating the airship attack, she encounters an undercity resident and reassures him, “I can protect you.” Later in the season, when Vi gets stabbed, Caitlyn encounters someone formerly connected to Vi. He’s grown a distaste over himself due to his appearance, and yet Caitlyn embraces him with compassion and tenderness, as a silent sign of gratitude. Then, she surrenders her cherished firearm—her only means of protection—in return for a healing potion to save Vi. In S1E7, Caitlyn’s heartfelt monologue in her conversation with Ekko perfectly captures her hope and determination: “This city needs healing. More than I ever realized. Please, let me help you.”

When Caitlyn and Vi stand in front of the Council, Caitlyn declares: “Councilors, this is Vi. She was born in the undercity. Even though we failed her in countless ways, she risked everything to show me what life is really like down there. People are starving, sick, ravaged by Shimmer. They live in constant fear of the coordinated efforts of violent crime lords.” This monologue alone shows how Caitlyn embodies optimism, believing in the inherent goodness of people, even Zaunites. It also shows that she is very willing to fight for them; she sees helping Zaunites as an act of bringing justice and equality into this world.

Many overlook the depth of Cassandra and Caitlyn’s relationship, reducing it to a simple narrative of a daughter mourning her mother. However, Caitlyn’s mourning is more layered than that. Throughout her life, she has been rebellious, driven by a desire to uncover the reality her mother tried to shield her from. In S1E4, Caitlyn reflects on this by saying, “She’d do anything to keep me from seeing the real world.” Caitlyn’s defiance wasn’t just rebellion for its own sake—it was a stand for her ideals. She sought enlightenment and understanding, even if it meant stepping outside the privileged bubble her mother built for her. By venturing into the undercity and aligning herself with Vi, Caitlyn rejected her mother's own ideals.

Here's another scene in S1E8 that emphasizes this:

Cassandra: You're a Councilor's daughter. Your actions reflect on the entire body. Caitlyn: My actions? You know what else reflects on the Council? Its citizens living on the streets. Being poisoned. Having to chose between a kingpin who wants to exploit them and a government who doesn't give a shit!

In a way, her actions mirror Vi’s: just as Vi betrayed her people by working with the enforcers, Caitlyn betrayed her own mother by involving herself with Zaunites. Remember: The last time we see Caitlyn and Cassandra interact on-screen is during Caitlyn’s plea before the Council. And in that moment, Caitlyn was fighting to protect the very kind that would soon kill her own mother.

You say that Caitlyn’s drastic shift is unjustified, as she’s only experienced a fraction of the suffering Zaunites have been enduring. But that’s precisely the point! Her transformation shows how personal loss can drive the change of one’s entire character; she’s never experienced loss before which is why it feels so heavy for her. And unlike Zaunites, Caitlyn actually has the power to act on her grief. Zaunites have only known misery their whole lives. When their loved one dies, they know there is nothing more they can do but grieve. They don’t have an inch of the privilege and military support Caitlyn has. If you had given them the same resources as Caitlyn, they wouldn’t hesitate to bring ruin to Piltover. Simply put, they don’t fight Piltovans because they don’t want to, but because they can’t.

When Jinx takes her mother away, her compassionate ideals completely shatter. Having always sought justice and understanding for Zaun, Caitlyn feels deeply betrayed, as her faith in the good within every Zaunite is overturned. Her mother’s death becomes a turning point—driving her to abandon her ideals and adopt Piltover’s disdain for the undercity, finally understanding the resentment many Piltovans harbor.

We also tend to forget that, aside from losing her mother, Caitlyn has directly suffered under the hands of Jinx. Caitlyn was held captive by Jinx in Season 1—and God knows what was done to her during that period. In the tea party scene, we see Caitlyn break down in tears, visibly flinching when Jinx moves toward her. It’s clear that Jinx has traumatized Caitlyn not just once, but twice. These experiences deeply shape Caitlyn’s actions moving forward. The pain and fear she’s endured push her to a place where she’s willing to sacrifice almost anything, even if it means putting a child’s life at risk (Isha's) or severing ties with Vi.

While they share their differences, Caitlyn and Jinx are the perfect example of foil characters. Here’s an instance which proves this: Both allow themselves to be influenced by manipulative, powerful figures all while being in a vulnerable state of mind.

Jinx is haunted by guilt; her attempt to save her family only ended up killing them, leaving her with the crushing weight of self-blame. She clings to Silco, not because he was the father she needed, but because he was the father she wanted. Silco indulged her destructive tendencies, keeping her at an all-time high on the edges of chaos. Fragile and broken, Powder crossed paths with Silco at the right moment; he saw the perfect chance to mold her into someone bewildered, unrestrained, and astray.

Caitlyn has her own Silco: Ambessa, the ruthless Noxian leader with a brutal philosophy of war. Ambessa enters Caitlyn’s life at a pivotal moment, stepping in just as Caitlyn is grappling with the devastating loss of her mother. In a spiral of self-identity, Caitlyn struggles with the weight of Piltover’s expectations and her unresolved guilt over her strained relationship with her mother (as explained in previous paragraphs). Just as young Powder mourns her family, Caitlyn blames herself for the death of her mother. Caitlyn got herself involved with the Zaunites even when she was warned not to, and at the expense of her defiance came the death of her mother. Driven by guilt and a thirst for vengeance, Caitlyn steps fully into her role, declaring in S2E1: “I am a decorated officer. Leader of House Kiramman.”

Jinx and Caitlyn share a tragic parallel: they both lose everyone they hold dear. Jinx loses Vi, Vander, Claggor, and Mylo. Caitlyn is left without Cassandra, Vi, Jayce, Mel, and Tobias. Stripped of their support systems, they are left isolated, with no one to confide in or rely on. They become vulnerable, used as pawns in the larger schemes of Silco and Ambessa’s strategic games.

Caitlyn's inner turmoil is exactly why Ambessa’s manipulation is so effective. Caitlyn is compelled to take revenge, but she doesn’t know how to. And without anyone else to guide her, she places her complete trust in Ambessa's expertise. Ambessa doesn’t just give Caitlyn the authority and power to avenge her mother; she teaches her how to use them to their full potential. She toys with Caitlyn's vulnerability, making her adopt the Noxian values of wrath, bloodshed, and ruthlessness. 

It’s easy to downplay Caitlyn’s grief since she comes from an elite upbringing. While Cassandra Kiramman is laid to rest in a golden casket with a proper burial, countless innocents in Zaun become victims of merciless violence, being left to die on the streets. After the timeskip however, Caitlyn is shown to recognize the moral cost of her actions. Though the series portrays this realization subtly, it becomes evident that Caitlyn is grappling with the inhumanity and immorality of her pursuit of revenge. In S2E4, this internal conflict comes to light during her conversation with Ambessa. When Ambessa attempts to stoke her fury again, Caitlyn disarms her with a piercing question: “Why is peace always the justification for violence?”

Here's another scene that subtly depicts her realization and remorse:

Caitlyn: You're a monster. Why? Why do all this? Singed: Why does anyone commit acts others deem unspeakable? ... For love.

When Caitlyn steps further and sees Orianna, she realizes that Singed's revenge is a reflection of her own: a person grieving the death of their family member. Here, there's a saddened glint in her eyes. She finally understands now, that love and grief made her do things that once seemed so foreign to her. In this case, going against her own principles just to succeed in her revenge.

Caitlyn is now forever haunted by the outcome of her mistakes, but she knows her past cannot be erased. During her confrontation with Jinx in the prison, she admits, “No amount of good deeds can undo our crimes.” While this statement is directed at Jinx, it feels like Caitlyn also holds this against herself for her own wrongdoings. 

Caitlyn’s acts of atonement are done quietly. She’s not good with words; she’s bad at articulating how she feels. Ironically, Vi is much better than Caitlyn when it comes to confronting and vocalizing internal conflict. So instead, Caitlyn’s actions speak for herself. By removing the guards at the prison, she tacitly allows Vi the opportunity to rescue Jinx. She knows Vi will come to save her sister, and yet she lets her. She finally lets go of Jinx and the grudge she held against her, as a silent act of her love for Vi.

And in S2E9, Sevika is shown to be sitting among the Councilors. But thanks to a fan's keen eyes, we find out that she is sat particularly on Cassandra Kiramman's chair (which not many notice). By allowing a Zaunite to occupy her mother's seat, Caitlyn gives them a chance to be rightfully represented, a chance for their voices and suffering to finally be heard. It’s a quiet display of Caitlyn’s evolution and willingness to bridge the divide between Piltover and Zaun.

That said, Arcane’s ending left much to be desired regarding Caitlyn’s arc. The heavy focus on Hextech overshadowed the sociopolitical dynamics of Piltover and Zaun. This is the main reason a lot of hate is thrown toward Caitlyn—there is an act of accountability, but there a lack of consequence. While Caitlyn acknowledges her mistakes, her privileged status keeps her from real repercussions, unlike the tragedy other characters had to face. This is frustrating, even to me, as someone whose favorite character is Caitlyn. Yet, in a way, it realistically portrays the inequalities in our own world—where the elite are often shielded from justice, and repentance is the closest they ever come to redemption.

[sapphiresaphics]

Because I don’t think just describing it is as effective, let’s go through the scene where Caitlyn becomes the general. (Note: These gifs have been edited for time and comprehension.)

What’s important to remember before watching this is that we’ve been shown many times now that Caitlyn is a detective. She has the unique power to walk into a crime scene, observe the surroundings, and make logical deductions from the enviroment.

With that in mind look at Caitlyn’s face here after the initial shock of being nominated. She looks down and her eyes start twitching. She’s thinking hard about something.

And then we cut to Ambessa pounding her chest and see glimpses of her henchman arranging the attack on the memorial, in addition to her silencing all the loose ends that could lead back to her. I don’t think this is just for our benefit, I think this is a glimpse into Caitlyn’s mind. (Gif sped up for time)

And then we cut back to Caitlyn, who is now looking around at her surroundings and watching the peer pressure start to unfold. As Maddie and the other Enforcers begin to beat their chests in rhythm to Ambessa’s prompting, Caitlyn looks back up at Ambessa with hatred. Watch those brows furrow.

In this moment Caitlyn KNOWS. She knows Ambessa set up the attack. She knows she was wrong for attacking the undercity. She knows she fucked up by letting her anger at Jinx get the best of her and for creating a rift between her and Vi. And most importantly… she KNOWS that Ambessa is using her.

Note that Caitlyn doesn’t start moving forward until after Ambessa says “come, child.” And when she finally does start walking forward it’s with a slow deliberate knowing pace. She even turns her head and keeps her eyes glued to Ambessa as she walks past her. She may not know WHY Ambessa is doing this, but she’s not stupid. She knows what her name unlocks, having just spent the past 2 episodes abusing her namesake’s power.

But the writing is on the wall now. She has no choice. Whatever it is Ambessa is doing, she can’t stop this nomination. She will have to accept the power. And I think here she is finally FINALLY realizing how fucked up she is. She has just become Marcus. A pawn in a larger game. And the ONLY benefit she can see is that she can use this power to find Jinx and bring her to justice, so her memory of her mother can finally rest.

And Ambessa knows this too. That’s why she leans in and whispers “your mother will have Justice!” And that’s when Caitlyn finally assumes the role of martial law general.

She doesn’t want to be there.

She doesn’t want that power.

But she can’t turn away now.

She’s stuck.

And she KNOWS it.

[runtopluto]

Caitlyn was raised in a society that values an extremely well kept image by a strict counsel member mother. She was taught not to wear her heart on her sleeve, but when you pay attention, she has SO much depth. I genuinely believe Caitlyn is the most emotional character. Anytime you look at her eyes in the show, you can see the storm behind them.

This video is a fantastic example so go blow it up.

The creators of this show are so amazing. It's these little details, just like in life, that really make it feel so full of life in every aspect.

[vandersprodigy18]

Caitlyn setting Jinx free wasn’t just for Vi, it was also for herself.

Yes, it was a pretty grand gesture, a profession that her love was greater than her need for vengeance.

But also Caitlyn did it for herself. She needed it for herself.

Throughout Acts 2 and 3 we are shown that Caitlyn is coming to terms with the actions she has committed in her obsession with capturing Jinx. That she lost herself in her grief and anger, and perpetuated the cycle of violence she has always disagreed with. She realises she has become the thing she hates.

In so doing, she comes to a sort of understanding of Jinx. And this was really the point of Caitlyn’s arc this season, as true narrative foils to each other, Cait needed to live Jinx’s pain and think her thoughts and commit the same mistakes as her.

So by the time Ep 8 rolls around, Caitlyn is in a place of self-resentment, she hates herself. And she’s looking for a way out of it, lamenting the fact that ‘we cant erase our mistakes’, talking about Jinx and herself.

So when Vi blows up at her saying ‘who decides who gets a second chance’ she realises she has the power to set both Jinx and herself free from this cycle of pain. She gives them both a second chance. Because if she is to be worthy of forgiveness, so is Jinx.

Because setting Jinx free is also setting herself free.

[undoing-daughters-blog]

I'm going to explain the theory that Jinx is not actually dead

(I know this is long, I promise it's worth it)

This starts in chapter 8 of season two.

We see Jinx in the prision, she's devastated, lost, defeated, and wants things to end. And we see the first interaction she has with the voice of Silco. In this interaction Silco tells Jinx that "killing is a cycle" and that it would continue. But Jinx says she's "done running in circles", meaning: she wants to stop this cycle. To which Silco says:

And later, when Vi goes to visit Jinx, and Jinx tricks Vi and escapes the prison. Vi then asks her what she will do, Jinx answers:

And now Jinx knows the way to break the cycle, is by leaving.

Next time we see Jinx is in episode 9. She is still in the same mood as before, and now she cuts most of her hair off and burns The Last Drop

Burning down The Last Drop and letting go of her hair shows this closure. Later, she tries to kill herself, which is her way of "walking away" to "break the cycle".

But then Ekko shows up, saves her, and they go to save Vi and the others together.

At this point, Jinx wants to stop the killing and wants to leave, but she will always want to save Vi ("I'm always with you. Even when we are worlds apart").

But she still wants to break the cycle. She still needs to let go.

So, as she saves Vi from Warwick with the monkey bomb explosion, she escapes and leaves Piltover.

And we get a hint of that in the final scenes of the show when Caitlyn is going through her mother's database. She finds a blueprint of the hexgate tower and finds secret air ducts in the place where the explosion happened.

We also see her holding a part of Jinx's bomb.

And after seeing the blueprint she has this look. Like she's thinking "is it possible she survived?"

And in the very last scene we see one of these things that is flying away from Piltover.

Which reminds me of Season 1 Episode 1:

She has always wanted to ride one of them.

Maybe, this is her new way of walking away, instead of dying.

And the two frames are almost exactly the same, it couldn't not be a reference to that s1 moment.

And I know this theory may sound dumb but, why would they show us Caitlyn looking at those blueprints then? Every scene, every frame in Arcane is carefully designed. The team is very good, they wouldn't just show it for no reason. It wouldn't make sense. Especially because they have only 9 episodes of 40 minutes each (except 9 which has 50) to develop everything that happens in season two. And there are A LOT of things going on, they don't have time to spare. If they chose to show us that, it had a very important meaning.

Also I think it's kinda bad If Jinx just dies, I wouldn't like that ending, at least not like this.

[shitpostingsapphic]

Caitlyn Kiramman can be a main character that goes through a massive character arc where she starts out as a happy go lucky enforcer who is naive about the system she works for, thinks she can change it from within, ends up falling victim to her own prejudices that she hasn't had the time or wherewithal to work through, contributes to the system she thought she was dedicated to change, make some serious mistakes and harm others, feel immense guilt and self hatred for those mistakes, directly betrays the system in order to atone for those mistakes, and people will still say Arcane has a pro cop message in season 2.

[pinspec]

i’ve absolutely loved the way vi’s appearance has been modified throughout this season.

in act 1, she retains her season 1 look, which could be seen as symbolic of an enduring self image of someone who must be unyielding and unchanging, i.e. someone who can protect zaun. this strength was borne of anger and grief surrounding the loss of her family, and her unchanged appearance makes clear that this vision of who vi believes herself to be still prevails. she becomes an enforcer after the attack on the memorial—not because she forsakes zaun, but because she believes she can’t protect anyone from jinx without the badge.

this is also the same hair she had when she first met and worked with caitlyn. we get the impression that she wants to be the same tough fighter who can keep them both afloat, but considering that vi seems most vulnerable in the presence of caitlyn—who causes her to suffer by persuading her to become an enforcer—we know this is futile. this theme is present during their first kiss, where vi almost buckles while caitlyn stands up straight.

then after caitlyn’s betrayal, a drastic change to her appearance occurs. she dyes her hair black and applies black eyeshadow, even black paint, to her face. she paints on a defensive facade to hide how vulnerable she is and her misery over making the wrong choice again and again and again. she tries to seem dangerous by making her rage visible but only ends up making her pain visible. hints of pink show through at the ends of her hair.

then jinx asks her to help her save vander, to overcome her lasting hatred for the hope of reuniting their family, and she actually does. she makes herself vulnerable again, and is rewarded by an unreal reconnection with jinx in the serene surroundings of viktor’s commune. she feels a flicker of hope that they might save their father. vi has the chance to forge a self-image that is not related to loss, and she seeks her younger self: the person who would put herself in harm’s way for her sister without a second thought.

then she bumps into caitlyn, who describes her as “an angry oil slick”. vi doesn’t respond with anger as she usually would—she just lets caitlyn see her. “don’t sugarcoat it, cupcake.” her dyed hair and shadowed eyes become a metamorphic signal. i believe caitlyn senses vi’s changing relationship with anger and is pushed to confront her own. she leaves her vendetta behind and defects.

in episode 8, vi’s hair is reverting back to pink and growing longer.

she goes to a locked up, grieving jinx and immediately opens her cage. vi’s transformation is almost complete; she has overcome the rage that made her reject powder all those years ago and replaced it with the desire to hold her sister even if her sister won’t hold her back.

succumbing to the loss of isha and vander, jinx traps vi in the cell and leaves, but it doesn’t matter. vi has become a force of love, not rage. caitlyn finds her, and reveals that she met vi halfway and allowed her to free jinx. caitlyn, too, has let go of her revenge motive. unlike vi, caitlyn’s appearance hasn’t changed, but she still expresses—through actions, not words—that she won’t let her anger control her any longer. she finally affirms her loyalty to vi. now on the same page, they kiss for a second time.

by the end of the finale, some remnants of vi’s transformation remain: her dark eyeshadow, her longer hair. she has come to terms with the things which she allowed to haunt her for a long time, but she must still learn what to do with her grief. she leans on caitlyn’s shoulder and accepts her support. interestingly, a physical change has at last found caitlyn, who wears an eye patch. after losing her mother at the start of the season she tried to remain unchanged and unwavering, but came to the realisation that her obsessive, grief-fuelled anger was obscuring her vision. her eye patch represents both an altered worldview and a newfound vulnerability; her skilled sharpshooting will definitely be impeded.

arcane teaches its characters that sometimes being vulnerable is not the same as being weak, and that attaining emotional clear-sightedness is a turning point on the path to self actualisation.

[purpleshimmer]

Arcane - S1 E7 - "The Boy Savior" + S2 - Bones UK - "Dirty Little Animals" + E1 - "Heavy is the Crown"